The tales of the highway man began as early as the 1300s with the Canterbury Tales or earlier. With a connection to the four horsemen of the apocalypse, they are synonymous with suffering.
Tales contain the metaphor of the lamb opening the seals and releasing the four horsemen. The lamb of god is a figure of humility and meekness who seeks seeks a righteous vengeance for god. We as humans do not question god.
God's will be done and after thousands of years of war, the Horsemen of the Apocalypse appear in biblical revelation. Common thinking is that the horsemen are awaiting release. Looking at life, we are in the wake of the apocalypse. Suppression through fear of temptation resonates through daily life.
The first horseman rides a white horse. He is enabled with royalty, a crown, to conquer. With the suffering of the masses, a hero is given authority to maintain the people. This is similar to to my blog, Identifying Satan, that identifies the forces around revelations.
There is a bleak time in history. The countries of the the Middle-east, Mediterranean and Eastern Europe suffered war after war. As efforts to end the wars began, there were many objectives to end the wars. A new era of arbitration created the notion of communication to end wars. The sharing of knowledge and benevolence of contracts could spread noble societies to break the cycle of battle. Most people were also fearful. They wished to know their neighbor before they knew themselves.
The second horseman rides a red horse. He is enabled to slay humanity with a great sword. Bloodshed will taint the conquest of the first rider. He will "take peace from the earth."
With this invasion of space, many inconveniences created questions and alliances. Wars were brutal. People complain about modern warfare; however, towns would slay another town to take things. There was a sense of pride in mutilating another person's body. The lack of feeling anything was amazing. We understand not harming another person because we might be harmed. There was a lack of feeling harm when harming another person.
The third horseman rides on a black horse. He is enabled with famine and greed.
Revelation 6:5-6 "When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come" I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a silver coin, and three quarts of barley for a silver coin; and do not damage the oil and the wine.""
Scales represent the need to balance the costs of wars. To balance costs, they it cost more to live and taxes became normal. While the common interpretations states black represents famine and disease, when looking at the full context, it is a result of war.
The fourth horseman rides an ashen or pale horse. He kills with a sword. Beyond the most maddening horseman, he also harnesses famine, pestilence and wild beasts against humanity. The grand cycle of the Devil takes shape.
The Highway Man is the Devil. Collecting his minions from the dead who continue to writhe in vengeance, their soul develop commitments to madness. Bond to earth, they cannot rest because they cannot forget. They sacrifice their eternal life to condemn others.
Knowing the intelligence of demons, they traipse their lands as demons to deliver the message through the slaying of those who they deem wicked. Those who cling vengeance become future highway men.
Though originating in biblical verse, these stories of death through humiliation, grief and despair take many forms. Mostly, it has an orientation towards people who become angry and hateful with desire.
Recognizing the four steps to ultimate spiritual decay, it is also useful in regular life. A person realizes the need for success. It is imperative. As the attempt to go on with plans, they become angry. They might boldly announce war among friends. In the wake of the apocalypse, there are few people who do not go through the stages of the four horsemen. It is the only way to succeed. This places pressure on people to win without death or murder.
As someone appearing dangerous or unstable, friends no longer wish to support them. They find themselves falling backwards more than gaining on goals. At this time the Highway Man writhes. They the world and become apathetic announcing the world hates them. Unless they become aware they are suffering from madness, they continue lose their humanity.
In the competitive modern world, I have felt the horsemen tugging at my resolve. I have had petty thoughts towards friends and family. I realize they are the only people who help me.
With great plans to undo what has been done, there is some much more to do. There are fewer resources and higher expectations to make everything right. "If I had a million dollars...," "I will show all of you...;" and "You will be sorry...," are the common calls of people falling into temptations by the black horseman.
If lucky, they rise to either be the deliver of death. If they are unlucky, they become the highway man. The highway man has associations to beggars at the inn, people who ride the highways with pride or people who hide along the highways to make deals. All of them looking to kill those who have viscous spirits or attempt sway the balance back to good.
It is a twisted fate. Realize these occupation is grand or filled with grace. Find salvation.
Matthew 24:6-7 "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.""
Fear is good when it is real. With so much to be afraid of, it is possible to explore without conquering. There is so many problems on earth. It is difficult to be mindful.
Recognizing the signs of the horsemen, it is easy to become another person who is unable to break free and find salvation. The ever-present horrors of death, disease, famine and violence make people miserable. Judgment is easier then perception.
Perception understands another person and validates all lives. It is important to care about life. There are meaningful methods of passive defense. It is important to argue through the long, tedious communication of philosophies to maintain a good life.
Recognizing the signs of the horsemen, it is important to remember this could become ourselves. It is not my neighbor or the media controlling my actions. There are many philosophical battles. I control my thoughts, emotions and actions.
Quirky Book Review
The Highway Man by Craig Johnson
Poetry Breakdown
The Highway Man by Alfred Noyes
Related Article
Identifying Satan
The Shield and Sword
